Volunteering with Al Raha Cats
About Al Raha Cats
Al Raha Cats is a volunteer group looking after the community cats of Al Raha in Abu Dhabi. It was started by Gianluca Santangelo, who moved to Abu Dhabi from Italy in 2018 for work. Out running along the Al Raha canals, he noticed residents quietly feeding and watering cats on their own. In 2022 he set out to bring those people together.
The result is an organised network. Al Raha stretches across more than 14 kilometres of residential area, so the group divides it into zones, each with its own volunteer team. According to Gulf News, there are around 30 active volunteers on the ground and about five more in admin roles. The group keeps a database to track the cats in its care.
What volunteers do
The work centres on trap-neuter-return, or TNR. Cats are humanely trapped, given a health check, sterilised, vaccinated, microchipped and then returned to their home patch. It is the approach the UAE uses for community cats, and it helps keep colony numbers stable over time. More than 120 cats have been through the process with Al Raha Cats so far.
Volunteers help in a range of ways:
- Feeding: some communities share feeding days on a rota, organised through WhatsApp.
- Trapping: helping to catch cats safely for their vet visit.
- Transport: driving cats to and from the clinic.
- Fostering: giving a cat somewhere safe to stay when it needs it.
- Adopting: offering a permanent home to a cat that cannot go back outside.
- Admin: a small team keeps the records and coordination running.
Who can volunteer
The group has said it is recruiting, and keeping volunteers engaged over the long run is one of its main challenges. That makes reliability the most useful thing you can bring. If you live in or near Al Raha and can commit to a regular feeding slot, you are exactly the kind of person they need. Drivers are valuable too, as vet runs depend on transport.
No formal age limits or induction are published, so ask the team what suits your situation when you get in touch.
How to get involved
- Follow the group. Start with @alraha_cats on Instagram, where the team shares updates and calls for help.
- Send a message. Tell them which part of Al Raha you live in and how you would like to help, whether that is feeding, trapping, driving or fostering.
- Join your zone. Volunteers are coordinated through WhatsApp, and feeding rotas are organised by community.
- Learn the basics of TNR. Abu Dhabi has a free online cat trapping and TNR course at catraining.ae, developed by Microchipped.ae with Animal Welfare Abu Dhabi. It takes about three hours and covers humane trapping, health and safety and hygiene.
Fostering and adoption
Fostering and adoption are part of what Al Raha Cats volunteers do, usually for cats that are sick, injured or too young to manage outside. The group does not publish a formal adoption process or fees, so message them on Instagram to ask which cats need homes and what is involved.
Other ways to help
Al Raha Cats does not take cash. As Gulf News notes, UAE law does not permit direct cash donations, so the group has built other routes:
- Vet bills: payment links tied to individual cats let you pay the clinic directly.
- Supplies: food and equipment are funded through a public Amazon wish list. Check the group’s Instagram for the current link.
Spreading the word helps as well. The group has been working towards approval for organised feeding stations along the Al Raha Beach canals, and community support goes a long way.
Good to know before you go
- Feed at the times and places your zone agrees. Consistency helps with trapping and keeps neighbours on side.
- Go early or late in summer, carry water for yourself and wear closed shoes.
- Do not try to trap a cat alone without guidance. Ask the team or take the online course first.
- Clean up after feeding so spots stay welcome.
- If you see a sick or injured cat, message the team with a photo and the location.
Contact and links
- Instagram: @alraha_cats (the main way to get in touch)
- Free TNR training: catraining.ae
- Further reading: Gulf News profile of Al Raha Cats